You and your family ought to feel safe all the time while in your home. Your family must know that when they return home from being out it will be to a place that is safe and secure. Reading the following article is a great way to learn how you can keep your home safe and secure.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

Have your dog protect the spare key. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. You should hide it in your dog’s collar.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Be brave! Engage your neighbors in conversation. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. Don’t disregard gossip either. You might find out valuable information related to security, like if there have been any strangers hanging around.

Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t forget about it when it comes to home security. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Don’t open up your door for someone who is a stranger. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Hide the wires of your home security system. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This will add security.

Your garage needs to be secure. A lot of garage owners fret over burglars entering this way, but there are answers. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Replace all locks in a new house. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. Aside from that, other people lived in the home even before the ones from whom you purchased the home.

Have lights that sense motion. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from their home. Copper is expensive and most wiring is composed of it, so stripping it is a great way for crooks to make a quick buck. Keep your wiring hidden or inaccessible to potential burglars.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. Although it’s normal for owners / tenants to surrender their keys when they leave, there’s no way of knowing who else might have copies. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Skylights need to be installed correctly and safely, with hardware that will keep intruders out.

Before allowing anyone into your home, check their references carefully. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Are you aware of the fact that your home wiring is worth money? Often homeowners are unaware of this fact until they find that their wiring has been stolen. It does not take much time to strip off the expensive copper wires from the exterior of your house. Hide your wiring to secure it.

The Internet is great for searching for home security companies, so use it to your advantage. Go through different websites and investigate testimonials about different companies and packages. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.

If you’re looking for expert advice, you need not look any further. Do you have an idea how to use it? Stay abreast of new developments in the field and learn everything you need to know about home security.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. It also ensures they’re not a fly-by-night firm.